Shanghai experienced a hefty boost in consumer spending during the National Day holiday on Oct 1-7.

The increase was attributed in part to municipal government initiatives encouraging electrical appliances upgrades and the distribution of dining coupons. The ongoing Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season was also said to have played a significant role in energizing the market.

Data from the Consumer Market Big Data Laboratory (Shanghai) revealed that total online and on-site sales hit 67.6 billion yuan (over $9 billion) during the break, representing a 3.2 percent increase compared with last year.

Foot traffic in 36 major shopping areas totaled 34.49 million visitors, marking a 9.8 percent rise. Most notably, areas such as Middle Huaihai Road and North Bund saw foot traffic growth exceeding 10 percent.

The appliances upgrade policy is said to have proved particularly effective, with daily sales of subsidized appliance averaging 54.07 million yuan – a whopping 140 percent increase from the period before the holiday. Additionally, home furnishings and elderly care products recorded daily sales of 23.14 million yuan during the holiday, up by a massive 228.7 percent.

The latest dining coupon program significantly impacted the restaurant industry, leading to increased bookings and customer visits. During the holiday, on-site dining reached 8 billion yuan, showcasing strong growth, especially in formal dining.

The inaugural Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season featured hit events like the Budweiser Storm Electronic Music Festival and the Shanghai International Light Festival.

These activities are said to have attracted large crowds and included themed promotions across various shopping areas – further boosting consumer activity during the festive period.